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Chamber, city and VIU partner for Successful Cities initiative

The City of Nanaimo, Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and Vancouver Island University announced this week they will collaborate in an effort to install an initiative that will help Nanaimo succeed in the future.

Last year, the chamber introduced its Successful Cities initiative, which highlights steps that civic leaders and organizations can take to ensure a prosperous future for Nanaimo and its residents.

Twelve elements of Successful Cities were incorporated into the city’s corporate strategic plan prior to its adoption last July.

“VIU supports the notion that Successful Cities requires a solid foundation composed of a well-planned built environment, vibrant culture and economic sectors, healthy natural environment and resilient social fabric,” said Ralph Nilson, president of the university. “VIU looks forward to continuing to contribute to the discussion as Nanaimo continues to transition to one of B.C.’s most successful cities.”

The chamber’s Successful Cities committee and the city’s Progress Nanaimo committee will join to form a new committee that will help guide the initiative forward.

Mike Delves, chairman of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, said the final model of the Successful Cities initiative was largely community driven and the implementation will result in all parties working toward a common goal together.

The three parties involved will now move the project ahead by scheduling public meetings in the near future to engage in workshops that will determine how the five pillars of the city – environment, economy, culture, social fabric and the built environment – will be represented in the plan.

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